Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-03-21

Sleep-uenled All nlgnt-ihlSht Noii'
at last, when Murdoch turned his
head wearily and opened his eyes.
u am that tired, Mac | shall be
glad when it's over"
1t was the first word of complaint
he had uttered. Macdonald had
not broken down before, but he felt
near it now. He felt the sob rising
in his throat as he murmured some
thing incoherent about the impossi-
bility of getting "A doctor.
"Don't worry about that, Mac.
Why, bless you, he'd only bother me
and not he able to do any good. II
/ am to get better, / shall get on all
right alone If not, what's the good
of being pulled about? Thank you'
old fellow"
Macdonald had risen and changed
his pillows and was bathing his fore
head, looking with a vague trouble
into the sunken dark eyes.
"All right, Mac; i know that I'm
done for-Ive no hopes Of being
patched up again. Only don't you
fret. What is itY'
One of the stockmen had come 10
the half-open door and was beckon-
ing to Macdonald, who went out soft
ly, closing it behind him.
"Well? ?"
''It's Black Bill-that there queer
cove from the bush. Reckon he's
gone crazy-like. He's been sitting
there in the doorway the last three
hours and won't go away. Came down
this morning-wanted to know how
the boss was-says we're 20 tell him
as soon as he's any better"
Macdonald went down and found
him seated there, sullen, slouching,
defiant in outward seeming-knees
crossed and arms folded-no life
about him save in the dull CLEAN Of
his black eyes under their lowering
brows. He rose slowly and touched
his hat.
"Ain't he no better YETI"
''Don't You know" said Macdon-
aid, irritable with impatience Of sup
pressed pain, "that he'll never be
any better in this world Z"
A troubled look came into the
mans wild eyes.
81 thought it would be afore sun
down." he muttered. "Don't YOU be-
lieve it,sir; he amt going to die-no,
no-not he y
He sat down again, settling back
into his old doggod Dativnoc. Mac
donald, finding it useless to say any
thing to him, went quietly back, and
took up his post again beside Muir
doch.
"What was it, Mac? Any one
wanting you?"
1t was Bill Adamson, from the
huts beyond the creek. lie was
wanting to know how you were"
"Black Bill? Poor old chap You
didn't send him away, did you 4! I'd
like to see him again"
Scan you bear il, Murdoch p
"Why not? Do let him come up %
Macdonald went down again, aud
found him still motionless in the same
position. He touched him on the
shoulder.
"Adamson, will you come upI lie
wants to see you"
The mans whole face lighted mp.
''The boss May ~
He rose at once 10 follow-then
he suddenly stopped and carefully
drew off his heavy boots.
"Did he say he wanted TO see me -
"Yes."
He spoke not another word, but
went into the room with Macdonald,
and stood awkwardly at the foot of
the bed, scarcely daring To lift his
eyes to the changed white face with
the hollow temples and drawn lips.
"Well, old fellow I'm awfully
glad to see you. Just leave us a
little, will you, Macr
And Mcdonald left them together.
He looked up, twisted his fingers
helplessly, scraped the floor with biz
foot, and jerked out the words with
kind of defiance
"You won't die, boss / know you
won't. I've made it all right !"
''What do you mean Come here T.
And he went nearer, and Lennox
Murdoch lifted his unwounded left
arm and laid Il around his neck
"Why, don't you know, boss
They said they'd take me instead Of
you-and they won't 90 back on
their word !"
II don't understand. Tell me all
about it,"
lie raised himself-it must have
cost him fearful pain-with bis old
winning, mischiev0us smile, a. n he
was nightly amused at himself aud
the whole situation, and laid his head
down on Bills shoulder. The great
bushman wound bis rough arms ten
derly round the slight figure aud ask
ed instead Of answering
docs il hurt you now r
mo, not much account. Tell me
what you mean, dear old lad"
80 he told him-sloWly, in his
broken, awkward words, having ~
be helped out by questions now and
fhen-of the llaek fellopsf hurfal